Direction Needed - Web Service User Defined Property

[BigJohn]

I am calling a web service with a return value (long) of a success/fail
value. Depending on a call attribute, a requested result can either be
returned in a string value or Byte group or a long value of a database ID.

Where can I look to define three of my properties to the service so the
caller can make the call and get the needed information depending on the
return code?

Thank you

 

[Josh Twist]

Hi BigJohn,

On returning a success/fail value - have a read of my reply to this
guys post recently:

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...c79a8?lnk=st&q=coffee&rnum=1#7de4188fd9ec79a8

I'm not clear what you mean by this "Where can I look to define three
of my properties to the service so the caller can make the call and get
the needed information depending on the return code?"

Could you elaborate for me?

Josh
http://www.thejoyofcode.com/

 

[BigJohn]

The function is called with a set of parameters. One of the parameters is a
return type.
Based on the return type, either a String, Integer or Byte data type should
be available.
The result is a dynamically built PDF file from 5 - 100 other Crystal Report
entries
or stored PDF supporting documents. The return is either the files fully
qualified name,
database key, or a byte array so it can be sent to a browser respectively.
Based upon planned use, the resulting file may be sent to a browser for
viewing
(e.g. editors making changes and wanting to temporarily preview),
a file to be sent via subsequent email for review and approval, or the final
version
to the database for archive.

 

[BigJohn]

It probably doesn't matter since this is .Net, but I am using VB.Net.

 

[Josh Twist]

In that case I'd just create three webmethods with different names that
describe the response type.

i.e.

[WebMethod]
public byte[] GetThingyAsBytes(object parameter1, object parameter2);

[WebMethod]
public string GetThingyFullName(object parameter1, object parameter2);

[WebMethod]
public int GetThingyDatabaseKey(object parameter1, object parameter2);

How does this sound? It should be easier to write and easier to use for
your clients.

Josh
http://www.thejoyofcode.com/

 

[Josh Twist]

Sorry BigJohn, replied in C# but it should be pretty easy to convert

Josh
http://www.thejoyofcode.com/